Rovers Reach Summit After Tense Bethnal Battle

Scottish poet William Topaz McGonagall once wrote;
’Twas about seven o’clock at night,
And the wind it blew with all its might,
And the rain came pouring down,
And the dark clouds seem’d to frown,
And the Demon of the air seem’d to say-
“I’ll blow down the Bridge of Tay.”
…and as Great Wakering Rovers looked for the victory that would take them back to the top of the Essex Senior League, that very same Demon of the air turned up at Burroughs Park bringing blustery wind and driving rain that gave the player of Rovers and Bethnal Green United little chance of playing any kind of expansive football.

Indeed, the side adopted a vast contrast in styles during the early stages. Rovers, playing with the gale in their faces, tried to play a passing game while United preferred a more direct approach, and after only 7 minutes, the visitor’s tactic paid off when Kadis Joma found himself in an acre of space behind the Rovers rearguard and beat Louis Godwin-Green with a crisp finish.

The home side was clearly struggling to master the conditions. Billy Mack’s energetic burst forward could have caused more problems, but the United man shot disappointingly high and wide as the visitors continued to press. Soon after Joma had Godwin-Green scrambling across his goal following a surged down the left flank and shot which drifted just past an upright.
Rovers almost hit back when Dave Collins exquisite free kick flashed dangerously across the visitor’s goalmouth, eluding a clutch of would be Rovers takers. Then from another Collins dead ball, Bethnal Green had to rely on some last ditch defending to avert an equalizer.
Nevertheless, Rovers had found their feet. From the resulting corner Bethnal Green keeper Clarke Johnson seemed to collide with teammate AJ Olotunbosun leaving Lewis Sparrow with the task of thundering into an empty net to restore parody.

The home side had now taken the initiative, “Jinky” Jimmy Webb glided past three United defenders before drawing a smart save out of Johnson. As the half drew to a close, Rovers were doing the lion’s share of the attacking while Bethnal Green looked to regain their early momentum.
Weather conditions worsened at the start of the second period. Rovers with the gust at their backs, looked to take full advantage. However, not before an almighty let off. Anthony Donovan should have done better when finding the freedom of the Rovers box, but sent his attempt high over Godwin-Green and the Rovers goal.

However, the Rovers had the bit between their teeth. When Jimmy Webb found himself clean through on goal there was only ever going to be one outcome. Despite the efforts of Olotunbosun, the Rovers maestro found the net via a post.

The goal should have been the signal for Rovers to push on, but Bethnal Green enjoyed a spell of increased pressure on the home goal. As Rovers looked to hang on to their advantage the game became scrappy with several tackles being mistimed and passes going astray. Amid the spell of lopsidedness, Albert Levett saw his effort wiz across the face of the United goal, while Nathan Fletcher did well to block Donovan’s strike as the visitors looked for a route back into the game.
Bethnal Green continued to threaten. Siao Blackwood burst forward and picked out Joma, but Rovers custodian Godwin-Green was alert to the danger.
As the game reached a climax, Rovers found the goal that ended the contest. Ashley Hawkins found himself free in the penalty area and simply fizzed his shot past Johnson to ensure Great Wakering Rovers finished the evening at the top of the table.
Despite the Demon weather and a strong stubborn Bethnal Green United, Rovers supporters “hearts were light and felt no sorrow” as McGonagall would have put it, had been present amongst the 84 strong crowd who braved the elements.

Rovers: Godwin-Green, Gibson, Collins, Trenkel, Sparrow, Fletcher, Webb, Levett, Heale, Nash, Gardner.
Subs: Keys, Hawkins, Pugsley, Williams, Hepburn.
Bethnal Green United: Johnson, Mack, Blake, Dobson, Fox< Olotunbosun, Ellis, Blackwood, Apoka, Golfer, Joma.
Subs: Donovan, Hickford, Dobkins, Bimangu, Cameron.